Голодные игры

           There’squiteacommotiongoingondowninthestreets,musicandsingingandcarhorns,noneofwhichIcouldhearthroughthethickglasswindowpanelsinmyroom.Icouldslipawaynow,withouthimnoticingme;hewouldn’thearmeoverthedin,Butthenightair’ssosweet,Ican’tbearreturningtothatstuffycageofaroom.Andwhatdifferencedoesitmake?Whetherwespeakornot?

           Myfeetmovesoundlesslyacrossthetiles.I’monlyyardbehindhimwhenIsay,"Youshouldbegettingsomesleep."

           Hestartsbutdoesn’tturn.Icanseehimgivehisheadaslightshake."Ididn’twanttomisstheparty.It’sforus,afterall."

           Icomeupbesidehimandleanovertheedgeoftherail.Thewidestreetsarefullofdancingpeople.Isquinttomakeouttheirtinyfiguresinmoredetail."Aretheyincostumes?"

           "Whocouldtell?"Peetaanswers."Withallthecrazyclothestheywearhere.Couldn’tsleep,either?"

           "Couldn’tturnmymindoff,"Isay.

           "Thinkingaboutyourfamily?"heasks.

           "No,"Iadmitabitguiltily."AllIcandoiswonderabouttomorrow.Whichispointless,ofcourse."Inthelightfrombelow,Icanseehisfacenow,theawkwardwayheholdshisbandagedhands."Ireallyamsorryaboutyourhands."

           "Itdoesn’tmatter,Katniss,"hesays."I’veneverbeenacontenderintheseGamesanyway."

           "That’snowaytobethinking,"Isay.

           "Whynot?It’strue.Mybesthopeistonotdisgracemyselfand."Hehesitates.

           "Andwhat?"Isay.

           "Idon’tknowhowtosayitexactly.Only.Iwanttodieasmyself.Doesthatmakeanysense?"heasks.